Sara Cater has spent much of her life at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church playing the organ and acting as choir director.

But she will soon find more time for herself and her family after she retires at the end of December.

“I’m just very grateful to have had this opportunity to serve this church and these people,” Cater said. “God called me to that, and I’ve loved it. My plans were to stay here for two years, but God had other things in mind.”

Cater has been at Cornerstone for 37 years, leaving once and coming back 35 years ago.

“There have been so many wedding, baptisms, funerals, concerts, and they all have special places in my heart,” she said. “It has given me a community and a church family, people with who I’ve shared ups and downs and births and deaths and just all the things of life.”

Cater is also a music teacher and spent many years as a staff accompanist at Wallace Community College Selma. Cater estimates she has taught 600 students.

“I love what I do, and it’s a mission. The teaching is a mission for me, to build community, not just musicians, but to encourage people to dream,” she said.

Cater said she still plans to teach music to her, but she has been praying about what else she will be doing in her retirement.

“The love and the connections we share — those don’t end just because I’m retiring,” Cater said. “I’m kind of excited about it because I still have the talent, and I know God’s going to open some doors for me to use it.”

Looking back, Cater said some of her favorite memories come from the Christmas Eve service at the church.

“Just us singing Silent Night when we sing it at the end of our Christmas Eve service, that’s always special to me. We stand around in a circle with candles and sing this. I can look at the faces of all this church family, this community, and it’s so precious,” Cater said. “Not only do I enjoy the presence of those that are there, but I can also kind of see the faces that are not, those that have gone on in the past. It’s just a wonderful time.”

Clarice Holbrook has been in the choir with Cater for 10 years, and said she will be greatly missed.

“I’ve known her all my life,” Holbrook said. “She is one of the most talented people that I’ve ever met. I wish I had just the talent in her little finger.”

Holbrook said she wishes the best for Cater and whatever is next for her.

“I will continue to pray for her and continue to ask the Lord to bless and use her in the capacity that he is using her now,” Holbrook said. “She’s just a wonderful person.”